Winning-streak Gauteng top of table

Even if they lose to KwaZulu-Natal in Durban on Friday night, Gauteng will finish top of the Standard Bank Cup table, but captain Adam Bacher feels defeat at this stage would be a huge setback.

"The semifinals are just around the corner and defeat now, after eight wins on the trot, would lead to doubts starting to creep in," said Bacher. "Also, Natal are still in the running for a semifinal spot and we could end up playing them again.

"If we can keep our run of form going and beat them, it would give us a huge psychological advantage if we did meet again."

Since taking over the leadership from Clive Eksteen, who is in India with the national team, Bacher's record is four wins out of four, but he is the first to admit the success is due to input from veteran Ken Rutherford.

"Ruds has been great," said Bacher. "Against Easterns on Wednesday, for example, it was Ruds who suggested I give Geoffrey Toyana a bowl. Geoff had never before bowled in a provincial match, but the conditions suited him perfectly and he not only went for just 24 runs in his nine overs, he was also very unlucky not to get a wicket."

One thing that has disappointed Bacher this season is the fact that most of the pitches have been bowler-friendly, resulting in far too many low-scoring matches.

"I hope the pitch in Durban is a good batting one," he said. "Things have worked out well for us because the nature of the pitches has made it easier to defend a total. That is fine, but it is not great for the confidence of the batsmen.

"With the semifinals looming, it would be great if we could get on a deck that suits the batsmen. It would be nice if they could get on top for a change."

Gauteng will be without Derek Crookes, who left on Friday for India for the five one-day matches. In come Graeme Smith and Dean Laing.

For Natal, captain Dale Benkenstein is not available (he has also gone to India), but Jonty Rhodes, who missed out on the tour to attend the birth of his first child, is in the squad.

- In other matches, Border play Western Province in East London, Free State face Eastern Prov-ince in Bloemfontein and Northerns host Griquas in Centurion.

On Sunday, EP play Natal in Port Elizabeth, North West meet Border in Potchefstroom and Western Province host Griquas in Cape Town.

Teams

KwaZulu-Natal: Doug Watson, Mark Bruyns, Jon Kent, Andrew Hudson, Jonty Rhodes, Errol Stewart, Wade Wingfield, Eldine Baptiste, Gulam Bodi, Ross Veenstra, Gary Gilder.

Gauteng (from): Adam Bacher (capt), Andrew Hall, Ken Rutherford, Geoffrey Toyana, Zander de Bruyn, Nic Pothas, Dean Laing, Graeme Smith, Solly Ndima, Neil Fusedale, Justin Engelke, Johnson Mafa.